The Raven

Chapter 26- Vampire vs Lycan1

Michelle nervously watched as Mandy held up a dress. Okay, dress was a nice assessment, considering what Mandy held was two strips of black leather. Seeing Mandy’s hopeful nod, she slowly shook her head in denial.2

“If you make me put that on, I will quit your wedding,” Michelle stated. “The answer’s no. And, before you ask, I’m not wearing that same thing in red, or green, or purple, or pink, or oran—”3

“Okay, okay,” Mandy laughed. “I get it. No ass hanging out for prude girl. Geesh. How am I supposed to have a black leather themed wedding if the maid of honor won’t wear black leather?”4

“You’re not having a black leather themed wedding. Armando forbids it. Remember?”5

“Oh, huh. I thought he said no to the lycans wearing dog collars. I didn’t know he meant everyone.” Mandy laughed, and began looking for another dress. “That pretty much rules out the wedding dress I had picked out.”6

“Well, at least you were planning on wearing a wedding dress. It’s more than I could have hoped for.” Michelle looked around. She couldn’t believe Mandy brought her to a place called Hell’s Boutique to look for gowns. Hearing a clanking of chains, she uttered without even looking, “No, Mandy.”7

“Ah, come on,” Mandy whined. “Dmitri would love it!”8

Michelle’s mouth opened to respond, but a smooth as honey voice interrupted her.9

“Oooo, I like that one!”10

Michelle frowned at the shopkeeper. She wasn’t in the mood to shop for bridesmaid gowns anyway. She wanted to sit in front of her TV watching bad horror movies and crying into her barrel of ice cream. Only, she couldn’t do that either. Brian was staying with her and he refused to let her have a moment’s peace—especially about Dmitri. 11

Anywhere she tried to go, she couldn’t think. The office was busy. She had five book projects going on there, and the editors were really starting to come down on her. She couldn’t concentrate on proofing. 12

Brian was at her house working on his latest photo assignment. His crap was everywhere, which wasn’t his fault, but she couldn’t even use her home office or her kitchen counters, or her bathroom turned darkroom, or the kitchen table. 13

Dmitri was at the Raven and she was being a baby about seeing him until she had at least five minutes to contemplate what had happened, if she wanted it to happen, what she’d say to him, what she wanted to say to him, if she truly did love him or is she was just horny as all hell! Did she want a relationship? Did she not want a relationship? Did he even want a relationship? Maybe he just needed sex? Who the hell knew anything at this point? And now she had to dress shop for a stupid bridesmaid dress that she’d hate for one day and never wear again to celebrate the happiest event in her best friend’s life! When all she wanted was to fall into bed and sleep!14

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Michelle screamed, yelling so loud her whole body shook. She pressed her hands to her temples, unable to take the pressure. Stopping, she turned glassy eyed to Mandy and fell on the floor—passed out.15

~*****~16

Dmitri shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He was supposed to be doing the club’s paperwork, but he kept getting distracted. Who the hell was this Everest guy anyway? And how the hell did Michelle know so much about him?17

“Hey, Dmitri,” Armando said, ducking around the corner of the office from the basement entry.18

Dmitri jumped and hurriedly clicked the computer screen. “Damn! Can’t you see I’m busy here? Why do you have to go all undead and sneak up on a guy?”19

Armando paused and sniffed. “Busy, eh? Then why all the aggressive pheromone in the room? You look like you’re about to piss and mark your territory. Please, not on the carpet. I’ve already told everyone you’re house broken.”20

“Why don’t you go suck on somebody’s neck?” Dmitri grumbled. “Leave me alone. I’m working.”21

“What are you really up to?” Armando asked.22

“Paperwork,” Dmitri said, unconvincingly.23

“Dmitri,” Armando warned. “I can read you. Don’t make me. Your mind scares even me lately.”24

“Fine!” Dmitri clicked the computer screen back over and frowned. “It’s Michelle’s latest books.”25

“You’re reading a romance novel. No wonder you’re aggressive. I think porn might actually do you more good, perhaps lesbians....”26

“Ha Ha. It’s called MOUNTAIN’S CAPTIVE,” Dmitri sneered, motioning to the screen. “I want to know when she was in Montana bunked up in some guys lodge. This Everest sounds shady. And the heroine? What a joke. Blonde hair? Yeah, Michelle is blonde.”27

“They’re both probably fake names. Even when the people are real, they’re names are changed—usually.” Armando shrugged. “Mandy’s written several heroines with dark hair. Gwen, from DAUGHER OF DARKNESS. There are others, but I don’t obsess about them enough to remember it all. Hum, I actually liked Gwen. Reminded me of Mandy and I’d like to think all the men in it were me, in some form.”28

“Even the elf?” Dmitri asked, eager to piss Armando off so he could have someone to rage with.29

Armando’s lip twitched. “It was a faerie. Wait you’ve read Mandy’s books, too? What has happened to you?”30

Dmitri frowned, and mumbled, “I wanted to support them. I figured I kind of had to read them all. Besides, Mandy’s are pretty violent at parts and a guy can get into that. I mean, who melts off a guy’s….”31

“DON’T remind me.”32

“Anyway, I needed a basis for comparison on Michelle’s novels. So, yeah, I read Mandy’s—those VAMPYRE PRODUCTION novels VALHALLA and VALKYRIE. Now there was a great series, I mean if you were a girl.”33

“I sort of liked IMMORTAL OPS myself and the two PEACE OFFERING books weren’t bad. I haven’t had a chance to read MISFITS IN MIDDLE AMERICA though.”34

“Why am I discussing romance novels with you?” Dmitri frowned. Armando shrugged as if it were no big deal. What had happened to them? They meet a couple of hot chicks and now they were reading romances instead of talking about the Supernatural Bowl? “I know where I was going. I was making a point.”35

“By all means, please,” Armando waved his hand.36

“All right, Michelle’s books. I’ve been doing my research. THE MISTS OF MIDNIGHT, I’m not bothered by. I mean, it’s about a ghost and we both know it’s rare that they date anything.” Dmitri paused and kept clicking. “Now, TRIBES OF THE VAMPIRE: REDEEMER OF SHADOWS, okay, she got that off you and Mandy—somewhat. I can buy that.” 37

Dmitri turned a sharp, suspicious look onto Armando. Armando smiled and held up his hands. “No, friend, I am not interested in Michelle and how many times do I have to tell you, we are and always have been just friends.”38

“Fine,” Dmitri grumbled. “ULTIMATE WARRIORS: SILK, not concerned. Though the… um… imagination in the certain….”39

“Sex scenes, Dmitri,” Armando chuckled. “You can say it. We’re immortal adults, you know.”40

“Fine, the sex is hot,” Dmitri admitted. He kept clicking the screen over as he spoke, growing more agitated. “But then, we come to the next two. Her bestseller, DRAGON LORDS: THE BARBARIAN PRINCE. I mean, look at the cover. It’s a guy in a fucking loincloth! Now, this first one came out and I assumed it was like the others. Besides, he was technically an alien from another planet. But, if that wasn’t bad enough. She’s written about one of those Qurilixian men again. I knew that Ualan dancing with her that night was bad news. And now this guy has a brother?! DRAGON LORDS: THE PERFECT PRINCE my ass! If anyone named Olek or Ualan ever comes in here, I want to know. Michelle’s probably seeing a dragon shifter. I can feel it.”41

“She’s not seeing anyone,” Armando said. “Rest assured.”42

Dmitri spun around in his chair. “You’ve read something, haven’t you? You have to tell me!”43

“I told you, I promised Mandy that if I did read anything off her or Michelle, I wouldn’t reveal it.” Armando shrugged. “My hands are tied with this one. Sorry buddy."44

Dmitri’s face contorted with rage. His gray eyes darkened, flickering with amber. His hands began to shake. He sized Armando up, knowing that if they fought they would be well matched. Vampire vs Lycan. Battle to the death or until Armando talks!45

“I, however, did not promise not to read you.” Armando sighed. “Restrain the wolf, Dmitri. We’re not fighting over this. Why don’t you just call her and talk to her?”46

“Because, all mighty mind reader, I’ve already tried that. She won’t answer at home, and if someone does pick up it’s her damned brother who threatens my life if I dare to come around his sister again. The damned secretary at her work keeps taking messages that are never returned. I’ve even gone to her office in person and got the ‘she’s not here’ run around. Mandy’s not talking and you’ve not been too much of a help. So tell me. How can I talk to her and straighten us out if I can’t even find her! I need to get out of here,” Dmitri said. “I need to get away from all this. I can’t take it. I’ve never felt this out of control before! I… I hate her.”47

“No, quite the opposite,” Armando said. “You can’t leave, which brings me to the reason I actually came. Giovanni called. He really wants that lot next door and has made arrangements for us to meet with a realtor tonight. I can’t be here right away, so you’ll have to talk to him. I need you level headed for this. Neither one of us want to piss him off. Although, if Michelle holds out on you for another month you’ll probably be able to take on him and a whole army of undead.”48

“Where are you going? Out with Mandy?” Dmitri sneered, though he was really just jealous and they both knew it.49

“No,” Armando’s face became dark, his paler skin turning flush with a subtle rage. “The blood supplier has been trying to skim our stock when he delivers. I’m going to pay him a visit. If I have to, I will take what he owes us from his neck.”50

“Why can’t I do that?” Dmitri grumbled, eager for a good fight. 51

“You don’t drink blood.”52

“Oh, yeah.” Dmitri sighed, knowing he couldn’t get out of it. If Gio wanted it done, he had to meet with the realtor and make the deal. He sure as hell didn’t need that vamp pissed at him. Armando turned to leave. “Hey, wait, while you’re there, do me a favor and pick up some more A-pos. You guys are going through it like crazy.”53

“Sure.” Armando started to leave, only to say, “If you want someone to beat on, go find Mike. He was screwing around with some redhead in the basement last night when he was supposed to be tending bar.”54

Dmitri’s head lifted and a wolfish grin crossed over his features. Standing, he strode straight for the office door, “Oh, Mike!”55

~*****~56


Armando opened the backdoor to the club and stood silent or a moment. The sound of voices hadn’t surprised him, but the sound of one in particular did. 57

“Darren, this wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it’d be.” 58

“Getting what you want never should be. I’m happy that you agree to my terms.” 59

Armando stiffened. What terms had Dmitri agreed upon and why? He adjusted his jacket and walked into the room casually, not wanting to give Mandy any more reason to be upset with him. The site of Darren decked out from head to toe in an Armani suit with his hair slicked back made him want to tear someone’s head off, preferably Darren’s. “Good evening, I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” 60

Dmitri turned and gave him a slight wave. “Hey, I just got done working out the kinks here with Darren Simons, the owner of the property we’ve just purchased.” 61

“Owner of the property?” 62

Darren flashed him a wolfish smile and he had to fight the urge to knock his teeth from his head. “I’m not the owner anymore… at least not according to the contract that your partner just signed.”
“Contract?” 63

Dmitri turned to Darren and motioned to Armando. “Could you give us a moment? I’d like to bring him up to date.” 64

“Oh, I’d be happy too.” Darren gave him a cold look. “It’s amazing what some people need to be brought up on. You’d think that with matters as important as this, that he’d already know. Just like you’d think people would know who’s been pumping in and out of….”65

Armando saw red and lunged at Darren. Dmitri dove in front of him, effectively blocking his path. 66

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dmitri asked, thrusting him backwards. “Why the hell are you attacking a junior partner?” 67

“A what?” 68

Darren put his hands up as if to say ‘I’m innocent’ and winked at him. The demon within took over and before he knew it, his fingernails had lengthened, and his fangs had descended. 69

“ARMANDO! Enough!” Dmitri shouted. “Don’t make me have to shift. These pants are new and I sort of like them.” 70

Darren sat down in the chair and tossed his feet up on the table. “This is really pointless. Our time could be spent going over my conditions to the purchase.” 71

“Conditions?” Armando droned out. 72

“Listen, there’s a lot of things I’d do to help out a were, but taking on a pissed off vampire isn’t one of them. If you goad him one more time, I’ll let him go.” Dmirti said, turning his attentions back to Armando. “How do you even know Darren?” 73

Darren leaned back in the chair. “Did I forget to mention that I’m Mandy’s ex-husband?” 74

Dmitri’s eyes widened. He loosened his grip on Armando and stepped back. “Kick his ass, and then I’ll tell you about what I did.” 75

76

~*****~77

Armando stared at Dmitri in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that his best friend had done something so foolish. “You gave the guy lifetime access to any of our facilities?”
Dmitri shifted and nodded his head. “Hey, seemed like a bargain because the guy knocked twenty percent off the price of the property, so….” 78

“So you gave my fiancée’s ex a free pass to interfere in our lives.” 79

“Right,” Dmitri said, before shaking his head. “I mean no. I didn’t know the guy was her ex. Hell, I didn’t even know she’d been married before. Do you think Michelle’s been married?” 80

Armando rolled his eyes and glanced towards Darren. “I will speak to our lawyers in the morning.” 81

“Talk away dead boy. The contract is rock solid.” 82

The phone rang. Dmitri looked at the two of them and laughed. “If you think I’m answering that and leaving you two here to kill yourselves, you’re dead wrong.” 83

“He’s dead, I’m just…” Darren began. 84

“A lycan wannabe.” Armando finished for him. 85

The stopped ringing and the sound of Mike’s voice filtered into the back office. “DMITRI!” 86

All men turned there attentions to Mike who had appeared in the doorway pale and breathing irregularly. “That was the hospital. Mandy asked them to call here… Michelle was taken in by squad and… and… something happened with her blood pressure and then….”87

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Chapter 27-Honey, I'm home!101


Dmitri’s tires screeched as he turned into the parking lot of the Mid County Hospital. He felt his body tense. Mike had been all but useless in giving information. All he’d been able to say was that some nurses’ aide called and asked for Armando. He’d told her that Armando was gone and then gave him the message that Michelle was in the hospital and Mandy needed Armando get down there. That was it. That wasn’t a whole lot to go on. 102

Hell, Mike should have a least asked what was going on. Dmitri would have slugged his cousin, but Mike already looked shaken by the whole thing. Mike didn’t like to admit it, but deep, deep down, he had feelings and obviously he considered Michelle a close friend.103

His car door was open before he’d even put the car into park. Leaping out the driver’s seat, he slammed the door shut without locking it and ran for the rotating front door. A low growl sounded in the back of his throat while he was forced to wait for an older gentleman in a walker. Tapping his foot, he finally made it inside and rudely brushed past him.104

“Michelle Pillow,” Dmitri said, stopping at the front desk. He knew his voice sounded panicked, but he didn’t care. Like it or not, he was going to storm up to that hospital room—no matter if she was mangled from a car wreck, dying of cancer, missing all four limbs—and tell her he loved her. Their petty bickering had gone on too damned long. He was in love with her and she loved him—he didn’t plan on giving her a choice in this—and he was going to spend the rest of his life making her happy, whether she liked it or not. 105

“No, my name is Susan,” the woman answered coyly. She was cute, but Dmitri didn’t see her. He frowned, not appreciating her humor or the fact that she was twirling her hair trying to flirt with him. Before he’d met Michelle, he’d of had this girl in a linen closet within ten minutes. Now, she just looked cheap, tawdry, empty. He wanted more than that. And he was going to get it.106

“Michelle Pillow’s room number,” he said stiffly.107

The girl sighed and turned to her computer. He was pretty sure that she took twice as long to give him an answer because he’d been rude. Just when he was about to reach over the counter and strangle her, she said, “Michelle Pillow, Room 456.”108

Dmitri nodded, trying his best not to growl at her instead. He took off running for the elevators, mumbling, “4-5-6,” over and over so he wouldn’t dare forget. The elevator took forever to get to the fourth floor. Then as the doors opened, he frowned. He was on the maternity level. Dmitri stormed to the desk, and demanded, “Room 456.”109

What in the hell was she doing in the maternity level? Fine, whatever. If she was pregnant, he’d take the kid as his own and that would just expand their happy little fucking family and she’d be a loving wife and mother and it would all be so fucking perfect. Oh, and she could just have a few of his babies why she was at it.110

“We don’t have a room 456, sir,” the nurse said. Her tone was stiff, but when she looked at him, she took pity and said, “What’s your wife’s name?”111

“Michelle Pillow,” he answered. She looked at her computer and frowned. “I’m sorry, are you sure you have the right hospital? We have no one in labor by that name… oh, wait, there is a Michelle Pillow on floor tw…o.”112

Dmitri was already to the elevator, swearing at how many times and ways he was going to rip out the receptionist throat when he found her. Getting to the second floor, he again went to the desk. Not even trying to control himself, he growled, “Michelle Pillow.”113

“214,” the woman answered, as if she dealt with stress everyday and wasn’t fazed by his.114

Dmitri began to turn, when he heard someone say, “Wait a minute.”115

Dmitri spun around, shaking so bad that he had to see her now or he was sure the worry was going to kill him. He blinked seeing a doctor. 116

“214?” The doctor waited for Dmitri’s nod. “You must be Armando. Mandy said she had you coming down. I’m Dr. Thomas. Listen, Mandy said I should talk to you. When Michelle came in she was pretty upset. She kept mentioning a Dmitri.117

Dmitri felt his heart let loose, pounding violently.118

“Do you know him?”119

Dmitri nodded, unable to speak.120

“Until she wakes up, I’d think it would be a good idea if she didn’t see him. Michelle’s had a mild attack. We’re running some tests and the last thing she needs until we find out what’s wrong is to be worked up. From the sounds of things, and from what Mandy has shared, this Dmitri is a primary stress source.” The doctor gave a smile that was more polite than cheery. “That young lady has had a lot to deal with lately. With her heart condition, I really am surprised she’s held up so well. Oh, and please try and get her to take her medicine. She really shouldn’t have been off it like she was.”121

Dmitri went numb.122

“Well, I’ll let you go,” the doctor said. “You can see her now. Mandy said you were family, so you’re allowed to stay as long as you like past visiting hours. I think it would be good to have a friend by her side when she wakes up.”123

~*****~124

Mandy headed into the office extra early to beat their boss in. The guy was a punk to begin with. Add the fact that Michelle would be out of commission for a few weeks due to stress on her weak heart, and you’d end up with an super punk. 125

Hank, their new boss, would have no problems with firing Michelle. He’d think of some creative way to title it so that he could get away with it, and there was no way that Mandy could let that happen. Michelle needed her job at the Nocturnal Journal so Mandy was willing to take on her workload to help her out. 126

She sat down at Michelle’s desk and searched her files. She had lists upon lists of interviews that needed to be done, so Mandy fired up the computer and began the arduous task of emailing all candidates. It was eleven by the time she’d gotten far enough on Michelle’s work to be able to concentrate on her own. 127

Mandy locked Michelle’s office door on her way out and headed down the hall to her own. Opening the door slowly, she jumped with a start when she came face to face with Darren. “What the hell are you doing here? Are you trying to kill me?” 128

He flashed a bad boy smile at her and propped his enormous feet up on her desk. She gave him the evil eye, but he kept them there. “No, baby, I’m not trying to scare you. I just wanted to see you and I’m sick of that friggin’ dead guy getting in the way.” 129

Mandy arched an eyebrow. “Friggin’ dead guy?” 130

“The vampire.” 131

“Ah, I see. So, what is it you want to talk to me about that Armando can’t be present for?” She gave his feet a good shove on her way to her chair. His size thirteen’s crashed to the floor and left Mandy grinning from ear to ear. 132

Darren leaned forward and gave her one of his famous ‘I’ve done something you’ll hate’ looks. “We need to talk about our marriage.” 133

“Great, this shouldn’t take long. We were only married a couple of weeks.” 134

Running his hand through his shaggy hair, he let out a sigh. “Yeah, about that….” 135

Mandy’s gut clenched. Darren was up to his old tricks again, and she didn’t like it one bit. “About that what?” 136

He glanced up at the calendar on her wall and shrugged. “We’ve been married more like two years now.” 137

“Pfffttt…” Mandy snorted. The calm look on Darren’s face made her stop and take notice. “What the hell did you do, Darren?” 138

“It’s more like what I didn’t do.” He reached over the desk to touch her and she eyed her letter opener. She wasn’t above stabbing the man if need be. “I sort of never got around to turning those papers in.” 139

Mandy shot up and out of her seat, sending several folders flying to the ground in the process. “YOU WHAT?” 140

“Well, you signed all that you needed to sign and then left the papers with me to give back to my attorney. I kind of forgot to do it.” 141

“NOBODY forgets to turn in paperwork. AND you swore to me that it was annulled!” 142

“I lied.” 143

Mandy’s blood boiled. How could he do this? How could he waltz in after all these years and drop this on her? “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why would you wait two years to tell me this?” 144

Darren’s face reddened. “I thought you’d come to your senses about us. I assumed that when I moved out here and relocated my business, you’d take one look at me and know that we were still meant to be together.” 145

She thrust her hands up in the air. “Hold on… what do you mean, moved out here?” 146

“Honey, I’m home.” He said, in a bad accent. 147

“Get the papers and get them to your attorney, NOW!” 148

Darren shook his head. “No. I’ve already spoke with him and he’s willing to take this to court. You see, sweetie, you married a werewolf, and by law we’ve got certain rights, too. You’re my mate, in the eyes of the law, and that entitles me to certain privileges.” 149

Mandy lunged at him, wanting desperately to tear any body part she could get her hands on off him. He caught her in mid-stride and held her arms at bay as he pressed his face close to hers. She snarled at him. “If you think I’m having sex with you, you can….” 150

“No, no sex… yet, but I will be moving my bags in to your house tonight.” 151

“LIKE HELL YOU WILL!” 152

Darren laughed her outrage off. “Mandy, it’s simple. I’ve checked into this. I’m entitled to reside with you—my mate and you can’t stop me. I could force you to move in with me, but I’m guessing that would be even harder on you, and if we’re going to make this union work, we’ll need to compromise.” 153

Running out of options, Mandy attempted to head butt him. She missed and came into contact with his shoulder blade. A loud thud, followed by excruciating pain was all she got of the experience. 154

“Sweetie, be careful. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Your body is not only your temple, it’s mine now, too.” He smiled down at her. “Don’t worry, I won’t push you for children, yet.” 155

“Darren, this is ridiculous. Don’t do this. I’m supposed to be marrying Armando in a couple of weeks. Don’t come in here and turn my life upside down.” 156

“NO,” Darren shouted. “You stop turning my life upside down! It ends now, Mandy. We need to make this work. That’s what married people do you know, and if we can’t then I promise to step aside and let you marry that dead piece of….” 157

“Darren!” Mandy scolded. “Please don’t do this. What are we going to work out in three weeks? Nothing!” 158

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. We’ll have more time than that because I say we will. I want at least two months with you—at least that or I refuse to ever step down.” 159


~****~160


Michelle blinked, opening her eyes. She had a killer headache, but that was nothing new. She’d been so stressed lately, a little migraine was nothing. At least her stomach wasn’t churning, that was something. Seeing a bright light, she blinked again.161

“Michelle?”162

Was that Dmitri’s voice? Her heart fluttered almost painfully.163

“Michelle, are you…?” Ok, that was Brian. “What are you doing here?”164

“I’ve been here all night,” Dmitri’s voice hissed. “What are you not doing here?”165

“I—” Brian began.166

“Bri?” Michelle mumbled. “What’s going on? Where am I?”167

“Hey, sis,” Brian said and she felt someone lift her hand. Her eyes came into focus and she saw her brother. “Doc says you haven’t been taking your pills.”168

“Ugh,” Michelle grimaced. “I told you I wasn’t. They’re placebos, I’m sure of it. I don’t feel any different when I’m on them.”169

“You need to be taking them,” Brian scolded. He gave a pained look over her and Michelle turned her head to follow him. 170

She’d almost forgotten Dmitri was there. Her headache was making it hard to concentrate. Damn, but he looked good, even tired and red eyed as he was. She tried to smile, instinctively glad to see him, but the look faltered. “What are you doing here?”171

“Mandy had to go into work to cover for you, so I volunteered to stay,” Dmitri said. His voice and expressions were tight.172

“You didn’t have to do that,” she whispered. Pleasure flooded her that he had been by her side, even as she wished he’d never see her like this. “This… it really isn’t a big deal.”173

Brian snorted. Michelle turned her glare onto him and gave him the ‘shut up or I’ll beat you’ look. Brian sighed.174

“Sis, I hate to do this, but I’ve got to leave on an assignment. The… magazine’s not giving me a choice.” Brian glanced at Dmitri. “You know—”175

“Yeah, yeah,” Michelle interrupted. She glanced at Dmitri. “I know. You be careful all right? Call when you get near a phone.”176

Brian nodded. Dmitri’s cell phone rang and he stood up to answer it. “Yeah?”177

With Dmitri distracted, Brian leaned over. “You know I wouldn’t go if it wasn’t important, right?”178

“You do what you have to,” Michelle said. “I’ll be fine. Promise.”179

Brian looked pained. “I want you to stay with Mandy… for me. The doc doesn’t want you being alone and I agree. And promise me, you’ll take your medicine. I don’t want to be distracted out on the field, you know, taking pictures. I’ll lose my focus.”180

“I’ll be good,” Michelle promised, chuckling softly.181

~*****~182

“Mandy, slow down,” Dmitri said into the phone, as he left the hospital room. “What’s do you mean Darren is moving in with you?”183

“Lycan law. He never annulled the marriage,” Mandy answered. “He has mating rights.”184

Dmitri frowned. That’s all she needed to say. He knew lycan law better than anyone. Being Were, they had certain protected rights as mating was a hard enough process to begin with. 185

“There’s more, though,” Mandy said. “Michelle was supposed to stay with me, but now, with Darren….”186

“Yeah, Armando’s going to be pissed and she doesn’t need to be in the middle of this. Did you tell Darren about Michelle? What kind of asshole moves in and kicks a sick friend out? You picked a real winner there, Mandy,” Dmitri grumbled.187

“Dmitri, please don’t. This is hard enough as it is. You think I like it? I have to call off the wedding. Please, I need your friendship right now.” Mandy sounded near tears. 188

“You got it,” he answered.189

“Thanks,” Mandy said. “I can tell Armando the wedding’s postponed partly due to Michelle’s episode, but he’s going to find out about Darren’s little ploy one way or another. I’ll just have to deal with that later. Now about Michelle, I got her workload covered.”190

“I’m sure she’ll appreciate it,” Dmitri said.191

“And I need you to take her home,” Mandy announced.192

Dmitri felt his stomach tighten. “Me? What about her brother?”193

“Brian’s leaving town. Some big photos shoot,” Mandy said. “And well, her home—”194

“You’re telling me that little twerp is going out on a photo shoot while his sister’s sick? He’s been living off her for how long and now he’s just going to up and leave her?” Dmitri started to shake, wondering if he wanted to beat Brian up so close to medical attention or if he wanted to wait for the dark alley so he could suffer more. He felt his body tingling with the threat of a shift.195

“That’s not all. Would you just listen?” Mandy sighed heavily. “Michelle can’t go back home at all. She doesn’t have a home to go back to. It burned down last night. That’s why Brian didn’t come to the hospital.”196

“What?” Dmitri demanded.197

“Some kind of electrical problem,” Mandy said. “We’re still waiting to hear. It took out her apartment and many others. Everything she had is gone. Well, I did have her laptop. She left it at the office. It has all her manuscripts and stuff in it, which is a relief because that girl’s bad about backing up files and the backups are all burned to a crisp anyway.”198

Dmitri couldn’t move. “We can’t tell her.”199

“I know,” Mandy said. “With everything she’s had, to add this would be… like adding the death sentence. We just have to keep things quiet. That’s why I want her to move in with you.”200

Dmitri’s heart pounded so hard he felt it in his stomach. “With me?”201

“Yes, do you mind?”202

“No,” he said instantly. Mind having Michelle under the same roof as him, day and night, where he could watch over her, protect her, touch her. His heart stopped. He couldn’t touch her. He couldn’t add to her stress. Suddenly, the idea sounded like hell. Michelle in his home, untouchable, unkissable. He’d be unable to declare his feelings for her like he wanted to, unable to convince her to love him. In a whisper, he repeated, less convincingly, “No.”203

“Thanks, Dmitri!” Mandy said. “I’d ask Armando, but Michelle would be too uncomfortable there and he’s going to be in too lousy a mood when I tell him about Darren to take care of anyone.”204

“Hey!” A nurse yelled, breaking into his conversation. “This is a hospital. You can’t have that phone on in here!”205

“I’ve gotta go. Don’t worry. I’ll convince Michelle to come home with me,” Dmitri said.206

“Thanks. I’ve got work covered and I’ll go get her some clothes to wear tomorrow. I think the Salvation Army’s open. They should have old t-shirts,” Mandy said. “We’ll tell her that Brian took her house key and we can’t get in.”207

“Get off the phone, sir!” the nurse demanded.208

Dmitri clicked it shut and turned his gold flecked eyes at her and growled. She jumped and backed away, pale. Feeling somewhat satisfied, he moved to walk back into Michelle’s room, hoping he could restrain himself long enough not to kill Michelle’s no good brother.209